India’s doctor-to-patient ratio is about 1:1,511 for allopathic doctors

With Covid having exposed India’s public health system, particularly at the primary healthcare level, there is unanimity that the country’s health sector needs extensive infrastructure support. At the same time, legislative bodies across India have debated extensively the need for a ‘Right to Health’ bill to expressly prioritize health concerns, be it private member bills introduced by my fellow Members of Parliament or the bill with a similar intention passed in the state of Rajasthan.

As recently as July 2020, the Supreme Court expanded the definition of the Right to Life and said that “it is the duty of the state to ensure the right to health,” thus making it inalienable from an individual’s life and dignity. Moreover, Article 47 of the Directive Principles also call for the provision of “maternity relief” and “public assistance in case of disablement.” In addition to these provisions, India has also ratified several international treaties. LiveMint